Chief Constable Abuse Apology

A woman who says she was sexually abused and contacted police with the allegations has accused them of not investigating the claims properly.

Maria Cahill from north Belfast was one of three woman who alleges they were abused by the same man.

Now a report released by the Police Ombudsman revealed that the PSNI predecessor- the RUC - had information about the allegations for a decade but didn't act on them.

The PSNI's Chief Constable George Hamilton has apologised for the failures.

In a statement he said:

“At the heart of this report are three victims abused as children, who were then failed by their police service.

“I apologise unequivocally for the hurt and distress caused to them and for the failures in the police investigation.

“The Police Service of Northern Ireland fully supports the Office of the Police Ombudsman. It is an essential part of the mechanisms by which we can be held to account.

“The report found failures by the RUC in 2000, to share vital information which linked a man to the alleged abuse of children.

“Whilst PONI has stated that they are satisfied that current police practices would not allow such information to go un-investigated today, the report noted other failures in the PSNI's investigations. These standards fall very short of the high expectations that I and my officers set ourselves and that the public expect."

“I accept the report and we have since implemented all the recommendations made by PONI for changes to PSNI policies.

“There is now a better understanding of the importance and the need to work collaboratively across departments within the organisation".